Boys State Preview Predictions
Class AA
Teams
Shenendehowa
Fayetteville-Manilus
Warwick Valley
Suffern
Brockport
Walt Whitman
Binghamton
Port Washington
Lockport
Chris Predictions:
Team: OK so Shen is the best team in the state by far and one of the best teams in the country. The way the team competed at the Section 2 championships was nothing short of dominant and I can’t really imagine this being anything less than that. For Shen, it’ll just be another step toward nationals and another opportunity to build confidence and momentum. Fayetteville-Manilus will get second and as much as I really like Warwick Valley, I have this feeling that Suffern might be able to take them down. The Mounties ran out of their heads at the Section 1 meet.
Individual winner: When I spoke to Shen’s Alex Leuchanka he told me he wasn’t great fan of hill running and there are some pretty lofty hills at Sunken Meadow Park. But I think if he can hang in through Cardiac Hill then he can win this race. FM’s Alex Hatz will be right there every step of the way and could certainly win this race himself. I’m actually a bit excited for this one. Watch out for Arlington’s John Mueller too. He ran 16:03 at Bowdoin Park at the Section 1 Coaches Invitational and if he can replicate that kind of performance, he should be in the mix.
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Class A
Teams
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
Wantagh
Pittsford Mendon
Jamesville Dewitt
Fox Lane
Half Hollow Hills West
Maine-Endwell
Hutch Tech
Goshen
Massena
Chris’s Predictions:
Team: Burnt Hills. Three years in a row the team couldn’t get past Queensbury to get to the state meet. After they beat Queensbury last week, this race is their championship to lose. I think they’ll be even better than they were last week too. Wantagh is a very solid team and they’ll get second.
Individual winner: I liked the way Otis Ubriaco of Burnt Hills ran last week. Hamburg’s Joe Whelan is probably the favorite. I’m going to with Whelan.
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Class B
Teams
Shoreham-Wading River
Honeoye Falls-Lima
East Aurora
Windsor
Westhill
Red Hook
Broadablin-Perth
Manhasset
Byram Hills
Beekmantown
Canton
Chris’s Predictions:
Team: Shoreham-Wading River is the strongest team in the field. They have been consistent and solid each week and they are running in their backyard. SWR wins then Honeoye Falls-Lima second.
Individual winner: I can’t pick against Chris Stogsdill of Marcellus. He’s been one of the best in the state this season. Bobby Andrew of SWR though, definitely has a chance. Again, he’s running on a very familiar course with the support of a team running for a state title behind him. I’ll say Stogsdill with Andrews second. I could be totally wrong because Pearl River’s Mike Hickey has been having a good season and is due for a big time race and then there’s Alex Dier of Falls-Lima won last year.
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Class C
Teams
Newark Valley
Holland Patent
Gowanda
James O’Neill
Irvington
Berne Knox-Westerlo
Oyster Bay
Pembroke
Babylon
Potsdam
Saranac Lake
Chris’s Predictions:
Team: Newark Valley is the favorite and the defending champions. That pretty much makes the pick for me. Holland Patent is close talent-wise so it really depends on how they teams handle the course early on that will decide the race. My pick is Newark Valley with Holland Patent a close second.
Individual winner: I don’t have much of an explanation for this one other than that it seems Max Straneva is the best in the field. After that it’s up for grabs.
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Class D
Teams
Beaver River
Notre Dame-Batavia
Seton Catholic (Plattsburgh)
Hawthrone Valley
Barker
Norwood-Norfolk
Seton Catholic (Binghamton)
SS Seward
Stony Brook
Haldane
Chris’s Predictions:
Team: Beaver River is simply better than everyone else. They’ll defend their title.
Individual winner: Let’s go with Mike Champagne to do what Mary Kate Champagne did last year. He finished third last year and this should be his time.